What are superfoods and why are they?

Few have heard of superfoods, but who really understands them? This article contains all the most important and interesting.

Goji berries

Goji berries have become a very common product among lovers of proper nutrition for a long time and for many years now they proudly bear the title of a real superfood.

Origin

Like most fruits and vegetables, considered a mandatory component of the individual diet of each person, these berries come from the East. Although they are common in southeastern latitudes in Asia and Europe, most are grown in China.

Interesting facts about the plant

This superfood has a lot of titles. The product is called the berries of happiness, wolf flowers, fruit viagra, wolf berries and red diamonds;

The fruit tastes like figs ...;

... And they have no special smell.

What are the benefits of goji berries?

About goji berries for weight loss heard the whole world. However, this is not the main thing. The main benefit of goji berries is their importance for health. The product contains about 30 different minerals, vitamins B2 and C, 18 types of amino acids and essential fatty acids for humans.

Product feature

Goji berries contain human growth hormone, so they will help you stay young longer. Regular consumption of goji berries will allow you to:

Improve vision;

Strengthen the immune system;

Strengthen libido;

Reduce the risk of age-related diseases;

Overcome insomnia;

Reduce inflammation;

Improve blood circulation and overcome some diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Cooking

There are two ways to eat goji berries: dried and in the form of juice. The first option is quite common: this component of pp is added to rice, rice, soups and salads, eaten as a dessert. Juice is used in the preparation of smoothies, cocktails and yoghurts. Broths and berries teas are also popular.

If you want to improve your health and improve your well-being, it is enough just to buy goji berries in a health food store. Feel the positive impact of healthy eating without diets on yourself!

Acai berries

Buy acai in kind is almost impossible - this superfood is poorly transported. However, people, realizing the importance of this product for a healthy diet, found a way out. The berries are first frozen, then dried, and in the form of powder the product gets on the shelves of health food stores.

Origin

Brazil is a faraway country in which many useful plants grow. Acai berries are no exception. They are most common in the state of Para, and are found in tropical forests in Priamazon.

Interesting facts about berries

The height of the palm trees on which the berries grow, reaches 12-20 meters;

At home, the fruits are called "Brazilian milk", "Amazonian pearls", "Brazilian Viagra", "fountain of youth";

With one palm tree you can harvest a weight of 5-7 kg.

Benefits of acai berries

About 3000 components are a part of this product! That is why Acai berries are not only superfood, but also the most useful fruit on Earth. Fruits contain in abundance vitamins B and C, proteins, lipids, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, calcium and magnesium, and Omega-3 and Omega-6 acids.

Product feature

Acai berries contain 33 times more antioxidants than wine, and 10 times more than grapes, proudly ranking first on the list of plant foods that are rich in antioxidants.

Acai berry has a positive effect on the body:

Improves digestion, removing harmful toxins;

Lowers cholesterol, "secure" against cardiovascular diseases;

Stimulates mental activity;

Gives a charge of energy, invigorates;

Improves the condition of the skin, nails and hair;

Helps in the fight against insomnia.

Cooking

In Brazil, berries are consumed fresh, added to desserts and pies, and drinks are prepared. To us the product gets in a dried form, you can buy acai berries only in the form of powder.

This very powder can be added to a cocktail:

In a blender, mix a banana, 100 ml of freshly squeezed orange juice, a glass of yogurt, honey and a few teaspoons of acai - tasty and healthy!

All 3000 components of the berries are ready to protect your health and longevity. Eat a product systematically, and you feel well-groomed!

Spirulina

Spirulina can be called superfood. Despite the fact that this unicellular blue-green algae is extremely small in size, it is very useful for the body. Despite this, the price of spirulina today remains low, which attracts slimming and health conscious.

Origin

This ideal product for adherents of proper nutrition has been growing on Earth for more than 3 billion years, rightfully being called one of the oldest “inhabitants” of our planet.

Today, spirulina grows in only three lakes in South America, China and Africa. This is not surprising, because for its germination requires a special alkaline environment and a certain level of salinity.

Interesting facts about the plant

The plant was called “Spirulina” because of its spiral shape, having first seen the microalga under a microscope;

The alga is very capricious in terms of storage, and disappears within 6-8 hours without a refrigerator;

According to the WHO, the properties of spirulina make it better than all edible algae, nutritional components and preparations for improving health.

How is spirulina useful?

This plant is 70% protein and contains all the essential amino acids necessary for humans that are not synthesized by the human body. Therefore, it is an ideal product for proper nutrition of a vegan, vegetarian or raw foodist.

Spirulina contains all the necessary vitamins for the ideal condition of the skin, nails and hair - vitamins of groups B, E, A, as well as biocin and niotin. A lot of algae contains trace elements and fatty acids.

Feature of Spirulina

Carrots are rich in carotene, which is "responsible" for the state of immunity - this is a fact. However, in spirulina the content of carotene is 10 times more!

Regular intake of spirulina will allow you to:

Reduce the appetite, and with sports nutrition - and lose weight;

Normalize metabolic processes;

Improve the condition of nails and hair;

Remove toxins and heavy metal salts from the body;

Improve the stamina of the body as a whole.

Use

The plant has a typical algae smell and an extremely unpleasant taste, which is why it is suitable only as a food additive. Buy spirulina is usually possible only in the form of powders. If you want to dull the unpleasant taste of the plant - add it to fruit juices or smoothies. Sometimes the alga is used as an ingredient in various slimming bars.

Add a small amount of spirulina to your familiar individual diet and notice the positive effect of the supplement after a couple of weeks!

Chia seeds

Chia seeds - the product is almost divine. Many years ago, they entered the process of Aztec ritualistic rituals and were even sacrificed to the gods. Why? Because this product is not just because of superfoods.

Origin

The homeland of chia seeds, and more specifically, the plants from which they are derived - Central and Southern Mexico. She was one of the most revered Aztec cultures and even acted as a currency. Seeds paid tribute, collected taxes, took a hike used before important events.

Nowadays, they also give credit to this plant, for example, in 2005, the European Union added it to the list of promising types of food.

Interesting facts about the plant

The grass from which the seeds are harvested can reach a height of one meter.

Supergrowth could disappear from the planet Earth 500 years ago with the extermination of the Aztecs, if it were not for the miraculously preserved piece of land with this grass.

In the colloquial language, Indians call chia "Nutale", which literally translates as "fat." And all due to the fact that the seeds have a high content of beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids

What are chia seeds good for?

There is more vegetable protein in chia than in any other seeds or cereals (it is comparable even to meat in its amount), which is why it is so loved by raw food eaters, vegans and vegetarians.

Seeds for a third are made of fiber, which makes it an excellent companion for weight loss. Once in the stomach, they swell up (they can increase up to 30 times) and give a feeling of satiety.

Imagine, in 100g of chia seeds, more calcium than in a glass of milk. Here it is, the source of strong bones.

When taking chia seeds, you will also notice:

Improve digestion;

With proper nutrition - weight loss;

Improving the functioning of the cardiovascular system and reducing cholesterol in the body;

Strengthen teeth and bones, thanks to potassium and magnesium;

Reducing body fat on the sides and around the waist, because chia controls sugar levels.

Cooking

The seeds have a light nutty flavor, which makes them a versatile ingredient for different dishes: both sweet and salty. The structure of the seeds resemble porridge, so they can be used very widely. Here are some tips:

Seeds can be cooked as oatmeal or as cornflakes that we like for breakfast - pour over milk, and after a short time they will swell and be ready for consumption.

For sophisticated lovers, it is possible to germinate seeds and add sprouts to salads and other foods.

Seeds can also be added to the grinding for the preparation of your favorite drinks and blends.

Chia seeds are a truly awesome product. Hurry to try it and see for yourself!

Pecan nuts

Although in the countries of the former Soviet Union you can only buy pecans in health food stores, it is a familiar product at home in North America. It is used for cooking both festive and everyday dishes and is not at all unusual for North Americans.

Origin

In addition to the southeastern United States, the plant is also widespread in Asia — in the Caucasus, in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. Pecan nuts are found in the Crimean latitudes, Australia.

However, about 80% of the world superfood harvest is still going to the USA.

Interesting facts about the plant

The tree on which such healthy nuts grow grows in height from 30 to 40 m and bears fruit for up to three centuries;

Even before the discovery of America, the Indians cultivated the plant and even made from it nourishing milk, which fed the children;

Pecan nuts “hidden” in their shells resemble olives, and peeled ones are common to us, walnuts.

Health benefits

Pecan nuts are on the list of cholesterol-lowering foods. This product is especially recommended by doctors for patients adhering to the anti-cholesterol diet.

Used fruit and as a product against cancer. This property of nuts was discovered in the state of Indiana. Researchers have found that a special type of vitamin E contained in pecans helps fight the development of cancer cells.

But this is not the only benefit of pecans. In addition, the product allows:

Improve appetite;

To overcome beriberi;

Reduce fatigue;

Adjust the level of testosterone in the blood;

Reduce headache.

Cooking

Pecans are super caloric - 200 g of fruits contain a double daily rate for humans. Therefore, they should be eaten with caution. It is best to replace the food with fatty foods and eat them immediately after cleaning the shell 5 times a day for a spoon for a meal.

Do not be afraid of the caloric content of this superfood, because the main thing in a healthy meal is its benefit. Replace meat and other fatty foods with tasty nuts and say goodbye to ailments forever!

Maca Peruvian

The phrase “Peruvian Maca” sounds strange and even exotic for us. This is really a rare superfood, if we talk about its red variety. It contains more nutrients, so it is much better suited for an individual diet of an athlete or just a supporter of paragraphs.

Origin

To understand where this fruit comes from, you can even just read its name. Peruvian poppy is grown in Peru - everything is simple and clear. More specifically, the plant is most cultivated near Judeen, a lake in the Andes Mountains. There are small plantings of plants in Bolivia, in the north-west of Argentina.

Interesting facts about the plant

Maca has been grown for over 2000 years, all the while using it as an aphrodisiac and natural energy drink;

The use of maca is lost if it is grown in other conditions, because then the plant does not form root crops.

What is useful peruvian maca?

Usually, men and women tend to buy Maca Peruvian for its exciting effect. However, this is not the only property of the product. It also contains about 60 nutrients that a person needs, perfectly improves one’s well-being and energizes.

Moreover, Peruvian Maca is tried to be used as an anti-aging agent. This is possible due to the special effect of the product. It activates all the processes that stop with age, restores lost strength and improves the body tone.

Feature poppies

The use of this fetus can reduce the negative effects of radiation therapy. Regular use of the product:

Increase immunity;

Support libido;

Will help in the fight against infertility;

Will soften the effect of menopause;

Improve the condition of the endocrine system.

Use

In our latitudes, Maca Peruvian is sold as a powder, which is “suitable” as an additive in cereals, soups and drinks. Maca Peruvian - a useful and nutritious product that perfectly complements a healthy diet. Do not forget about the important fruit and you!

Guarana

In Brazil, the birthplace of the plant, guarana is considered the best energy drink. And it is not surprising, because the fruits of the plant contain guaranine - a component identical to caffeine. The use of guarana allows you to confidently call it superfood.

Origin

This evergreen shrub grows on the shores of the Amazon in Brazil and Venezuela. In addition, a wild plant is also found in the state of Amazonas (Brazil). If we talk about industry, the main areas of cultivation of guarana - Brazil, Mato Grosso and Goias.

Interesting facts about the plant

The name of superfood comes from the word warana, which from the language of the ancient Amazonian people is translated as “fruit, as human eyes”;

Brazilian guarana-based beverages in the country sell better than Coca-Cola;

On the basis of guarana, some companies in Australia, Europe and the USA have learned to produce special “energy” chewing gum.

Product feature

It dulls the feeling of hunger, which is why guarana is so popular for losing weight;

Stimulates and strengthens the central nervous system;

Stimulates defecation;

Become a powerful aphrodisiac;

Reduce skin irritation;

Allow to replace some antibacterial drugs.

Use

Among the traditional forms of the product are food additives in tablets, chewing gum and lozenges. Guarana extract is also used to make teas, elixirs, non-alcoholic and alcoholic energy drinks. In Europe, superfood is less common, so you can only buy guarana in health food stores.

Guarana - a great product for an individual athlete's diet. It will help to gain energy before training and tune in to fitness, football, exercise equipment or any other kind of activity.

About the author

The most interesting for the most beautiful. I write about what is interesting, beautiful, useful to myself, and, I hope, to you too :) I am constantly looking for something new and always glad to share new knowledge and inspiration!